Todd

Todd lives with a C4 spinal cord injury. He's been using Tecla since February of 2014. Todd runs his software business from his iPhone by using Tecla, his wheelchair chin joystick and additional proximity switches. He was profiled by CNN for his use of Switch Control.

"I use my phone for everything to be a man, a human, and a business owner. My iPhone is my world. And that only works because of Tecla.”

On his confidence and ability to communicate since using Tecla:

My confidence was built around the durability of the product. It has a large battery. That’s great. I plug mine in. It always has to be working. I have a second one in my trunk of my wheelchair in the event this one fails. Because it’s now so important in my story. If the Tecla failed, I would be ruined. I have no way to communicate if the Tecla is not sound and pristine and cleaned and charged. So competence is built by demonstration. And Tecla has thoroughly demonstrated that the product is sound. So that’s a huge, huge deal.

Todd and his friend Ian.

On the greatest change he's seen in himself since using Tecla:

Decades ago, a little boy’s life was robbed from the neck down. In the midst of all the pain, depression and drugs, life did seem worthless. The discovery of Tecla presented me the opportunity to be human again and to do life well.

Todd and his wife Karen on their wedding day.

On his new interests and hobbies since using Tecla:

I’ve been able to watch 20 other people explode with new activities (after introducing them to Tecla). Strava is an app that tracks your walking and running and bicycling. And I do that all through Switch Control. Same with my buddy who did 1,000 miles last summer.

So now you have quadriplegics out there moving around, driving around, using all these sorts of cool apps to track progress.

Pictures – now I can actually take pictures on my phone. That has actually been a lot of fun. What a world has opened in the space of independence and freedom. And being able to put me in a position of ‘normal.’

Learn more about Todd and his foundation here. Or connect with him on LinkedIn.